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Enigma (computer game)
Encyclopedia
Enigma is a transport puzzle
computer game based on Oxyd
, and is released under the GPL
. Enigma continues to be very popular as an open source multi-platform derivative of Oxyd now that Oxyd is no longer maintained. The open source Enigma has been praised in reviews.
Landscapes usually take the form of logic puzzles, although frequently, dexterity with the pointing device
(the only form of input) is also required. The landscapes are generated by scripts in the Lua programming language
, making the creation of complicated landscapes relatively easy. A level editor exists, but it is currently not used very much.
As well as the 624 standard landscapes designed for it, Enigma also includes 20 tutorial landscapes, 149 landscapes adapted from various Sokoban
games, 161 landscapes adapted from the Oxyd
games, and 91 landscapes adapted from Oxyds predecessor, Esprit. This makes a total of 1045 landscapes.
Additionally, Enigma is capable of reading and playing landscapes from the data-files of the original Oxyd
games, potentially adding another 389 landscapes to Enigmas collection. Although some Oxyd-series features are not yet implemented in Enigma, most of the landscapes are fully functional.
Enigma does not currently support the popular cooperative two-player network games that were available with some versions of Oxyd. However, most of the two-player landscapes are playable in single-player.
Enigma is compiled for Mac OS X
, GP2X
, Microsoft Windows
, and Linux
(with packages available for several distributions).
Due to the large number of levels and the variety of challenges involved, achieving 100% level completion is no small task. According to in-game published statistics, as of January 2009 only one person has managed 100% level completion.
Often in each level, apart from the introductory ones that introduce the game gradually to the player, each level either contains a puzzle, race or many hazards (which tax the player's problem solving/logical skills, dexterity, patience and speed; these factors determine the overall difficulty of the level) which the player must solve, win or avoid or risk making the level impossible to solve (in which the player must restart it) or risk having the marble sink, fall down an abyss, destroyed or crushed. This takes away one of the players lives shown in the form of spare marbles in the inventory. The level automatically restarts from the beginning when all lives are lost, with the Oxyd colours randomly shuffled again. Some levels even are/have mazes which the player must find his/her way through.
(Derived from the golf scoring format) and World Record
. PAR usually takes some quick doing to achieve and even changes with time in the newer versions and setting a new World Record is near impossible even for the dedicated player except through sheer luck. World Records are usually formed by groups of very dedicated players who have mastered moving the marble quickly but precisely and have known the inside outs of each level.
Transport puzzle
Transport puzzles are logistical puzzles, which often represent real-life transport problems.-Description:In transport puzzles you move persons and/or objects through a given landscape. As in rearrangement puzzles, no piece is ever lost or added to the board...
computer game based on Oxyd
Oxyd
Oxyd is a Trade Marked name for a patented chemical used by Reckitt Benckiser in some Optrex products.Oxyd is a computer puzzle game released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh, PC, and the NeXT platform by Dongleware Verlags GmbH in 1990....
, and is released under the GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
. Enigma continues to be very popular as an open source multi-platform derivative of Oxyd now that Oxyd is no longer maintained. The open source Enigma has been praised in reviews.
Landscapes usually take the form of logic puzzles, although frequently, dexterity with the pointing device
Pointing device
A pointing device is an input interface that allows a user to input spatial data to a computer...
(the only form of input) is also required. The landscapes are generated by scripts in the Lua programming language
Lua programming language
Lua is a lightweight multi-paradigm programming language designed as a scripting language with extensible semantics as a primary goal. Lua has a relatively simple C API compared to other scripting languages.- History :...
, making the creation of complicated landscapes relatively easy. A level editor exists, but it is currently not used very much.
As well as the 624 standard landscapes designed for it, Enigma also includes 20 tutorial landscapes, 149 landscapes adapted from various Sokoban
Sokoban
is a type of transport puzzle, in which the player pushes boxes or crates around in a warehouse, trying to get them to storage locations. The puzzle is usually implemented as a video game....
games, 161 landscapes adapted from the Oxyd
Oxyd
Oxyd is a Trade Marked name for a patented chemical used by Reckitt Benckiser in some Optrex products.Oxyd is a computer puzzle game released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh, PC, and the NeXT platform by Dongleware Verlags GmbH in 1990....
games, and 91 landscapes adapted from Oxyds predecessor, Esprit. This makes a total of 1045 landscapes.
Additionally, Enigma is capable of reading and playing landscapes from the data-files of the original Oxyd
Oxyd
Oxyd is a Trade Marked name for a patented chemical used by Reckitt Benckiser in some Optrex products.Oxyd is a computer puzzle game released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh, PC, and the NeXT platform by Dongleware Verlags GmbH in 1990....
games, potentially adding another 389 landscapes to Enigmas collection. Although some Oxyd-series features are not yet implemented in Enigma, most of the landscapes are fully functional.
Enigma does not currently support the popular cooperative two-player network games that were available with some versions of Oxyd. However, most of the two-player landscapes are playable in single-player.
Enigma is compiled for Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, GP2X
GP2X
The GP2X is an open-source, Linux-based handheld video game console and portable media player developed by South Korean company GamePark Holdings. It was released on November 10, 2005, in South Korea only....
, Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
(with packages available for several distributions).
Due to the large number of levels and the variety of challenges involved, achieving 100% level completion is no small task. According to in-game published statistics, as of January 2009 only one person has managed 100% level completion.
Gameplay
Enigma consists of approximately 1000 levels, known as ‘landscapes’ which may be played in any order. The player controls one or more marbles using the mouse, and interacts with the landscape purely through the marble. Levels fall into two broad categories: Oxyd landscapes and meditation landscapes. Some levels may appear to fall into one category while actually being in the other.Often in each level, apart from the introductory ones that introduce the game gradually to the player, each level either contains a puzzle, race or many hazards (which tax the player's problem solving/logical skills, dexterity, patience and speed; these factors determine the overall difficulty of the level) which the player must solve, win or avoid or risk making the level impossible to solve (in which the player must restart it) or risk having the marble sink, fall down an abyss, destroyed or crushed. This takes away one of the players lives shown in the form of spare marbles in the inventory. The level automatically restarts from the beginning when all lives are lost, with the Oxyd colours randomly shuffled again. Some levels even are/have mazes which the player must find his/her way through.
Scoring system
Enigma also contains a score system which tracks how fast the player finishes the level. When a level is completed, a "personal record" for the level is made. All levels have two records which the player can try to beat: PARPar (score)
The word "par" is a term in the game of golf used to denote the pre-determined number of strokes that a scratch golfer should require to complete a hole, a round , or a tournament...
(Derived from the golf scoring format) and World Record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
. PAR usually takes some quick doing to achieve and even changes with time in the newer versions and setting a new World Record is near impossible even for the dedicated player except through sheer luck. World Records are usually formed by groups of very dedicated players who have mastered moving the marble quickly but precisely and have known the inside outs of each level.